Device for gathering used razor blades



y 7, 1955 H. c. KLAGGES 2,708,308

DEVICE FOR GATHERING USED RAZOR BLADES Filed May 2, 1952 FIG.9

HENRY C.KLAGGES INVENTOR:

United States Patent DEVICE FoR GATHERING USED RAZoR BLADES Henry C. Klagges, Haddon Township, Camden County, N. .l.

Application May 2, 1952, Serial No. 285,829

4 Claims. (Cl. 30-49) My invention relates to the disposal of used razor blades.

The main object of my invention is to provide means whereby used razor blades may be gathered and subsequently discarded without direct handling; thereby avoiding all danger of cutting the fingers.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple, efficient, and economical device for gathering used razor blades from their holder; such device initially gripping the edges of the used blades and flexing the same and thereafter retaining them in the flexed condition against accidental removal.

And a still further object of my invention is to provide an improved pick-up device which may be associated with a dispenser from which a fresh blade may be set in a holder after a used blade has been removed therefrom.

In one form of my pickup device, I provide a member comprising a body portion of rectangular shape, relatively flat, and of a size slightly larger than the overall dimension of a razor blade. The body portion is provided with integral side walls or edge flanges whose inner surfaces are perpendicular thereto and are spaced apart in parallel relation a distance slightly less in extent than the width of a blade. These walls or flanges are rigid and the used blades are nested between them in the flexed condition as they are gathered. In the operation of my pick-up device, the edges of the blades are engaged by the inner surfaces of the side walls or flanges and such engagernent causes the blades to arch or flex upwardly; being subsequently held by the frictional engagement of their edges with the wall surfaces under the force of tension developed in their flexed position.

While my pick-up device may be made of any suitable I material, it is preferably composed of a suitable plastic with side walls of a dimension to insure suflicient rigidity to retain the blades in their flexed condition after they have been gathered. The height of the side walls may be such that a relatively large number of blades may be jammed between and gripped by the same. End walls are preferably provided to prevent attempts to dislodge the picked-up blades longitudinally of the device.

In use, my pick-up device is positioned over the used blade while the latter is still supported in its open holder or in a portion of the same, with the side walls or flanges of the pick-up device longitudinally disposed with respect to the edges of the blade, and then the pick-up device is firmly pressed against the edges of the blade which occupies a substantially horizontal position. By this action, simultaneous engagement of the side walls of the pick-up device with the edges of the blade, will cause the latter to flex and arch upwardly with its edges in tight frictional engagement with the inner faces of the side walls and such engagement or disposal in the flexed condition will retain the used blades against removal from the pick-up device.

After the capacity of the pick-up device has been reached, the whole structure, still retaining the used blades and avoiding all danger of cutting by their edges, may be disposed of in any way. 7

These and other features of my invention are more fully set forth hereinafter; reference being had to the accompanying drawings, more or less diagrammatic in character, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the underside of one form of my pick-up device with the spaced side walls or flanges in parallel relation.

Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of a modified pick-up device illustrated in Fig. 1; such view including a detail of the invention.

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of another modified pick-up device showing a used razor blade in gripped position between the side walls of the same; such view also illustrating a detail of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a crosssectional view on the line IV1V, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an end view showing the position of the pickup device with respect to a used blade supported by a part of a holding structure.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the position of the used blade after it has been gathered and held between the side walls or flanges of the pick-up device.

Fig. 7 is an end view showing the position of a used blade with respect to another form of holding structure.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the position of the used blade after it has been gathered and held between the side walls or flanges of the pick-up device.

Figs. 9 and 10 are cross-sectional views illustrating details of modified constructions within the scope of my invention.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view, wholly diagrammatic, showing one manner in which my pick-up device may include a hollow Wall providing space in which fresh blades may be held.

In the use of safety razors, it is necessary to dispose of the used blades, and it is highly desirable that this disposal be accomplished in a manner that will avoid all danger of cutting the fingers or other injury. Used blades, especially those of the double-edge type, are not easily handled and in all prior efforts to dispose of the same after removal from a holder there was danger that the fingers of the user would be cut.

Insofar as the placement of a new or fresh blade in a holder is concerned, there are already on the market several forms of dispensers and with their use it is a simple matter to insert a fresh blade in a holder without handling the same and without danger of cutting the fingers of the user.

After such use as to dull the cutting edges of a blade; requiring the insertion of a fresh blade in the holder, it is necessary to remove the used blade and heretofore this has been done by the user picking up a blade with the fingers and placing it in a disposal receptacle. While used blades are too dull for service, the edges of the same are still quite sharp and are liable to cut the fingers if carelessly handled. All danger of such mishap or other injury is avoided by the use of a pick-up device such as that forming the subject of my invention.

Fig. l of the accompanying drawings is a linear perspective view showing the underside of one form of my pick-up device. This device comprises a plate-like body portion, substantially rectangular in plan, indicated at 10, With side walls or flanges, indicated at 19*, having inner surfaces perpendicular to the plane of the body portion and projecting from one face of the same in parallelism. The space between the side walls or flanges of the body portion has a dimension slightly less than the width of a blade to accommodate the latter when flexed, as illustrated in Figs. 3, 6, et seq., and these walls are sufliciently rigid 2,7os,eos

to grip and retain a group of used blades in arched position.

The body 10 is longitudinally slotted at 10*, with a centrol opening 16 cutting through the slot; the slot and opening cooperating with parts of a holder which serve to position a blade for the shaving operation. Most safety razor blades are slotted to accommodate themselves to various types of holders.

One type of safety razor holder from which used blades may be gathered by my pick-up device includes a top or cover such as illustrated at A, Figs. 5 and 6. This cover has a screw stem a receiving a handle and when a blade B is in position and the handle is screwed home, such blade will be flexed into the position of use; proper seating of the blade being efiected by ribs a disposed longitudinally of the cover and in axial alignment with the screw stem which, with the ribs, enter the slot b of the blade as the latter is set in place. When a used blade is to be gathered from this'holder, the top or cover is detached from the handle and may be laid on a flat surface, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6; the used blade resuming, substantially, its original fiat state and resting on the edges of the top or cover; being maintained in substantial parallel relation with respect thereto by the ribs a which enter its longitudinal slot 17.

With the used blade in such position upon the top or cover A, the pick-up device is positionedover the blade and then pressed down upon the same. This action causes the inner surfaces of the side walls 10 to engage the edges of the blade and upon continuing the pressure the blade,

owing to its extreme thinness, will be flexed-arching upwardly-and the edges thereof will be displaced against the inner surfaces of the side walls and firmly gripped and frictionally held thereby, as illustrated in Fig. 6. This operation may be carried on successively as the razor blades become dull; each additional blade serving to displace those previously picked up until the capacity of the pick-up device is reached.

Another form of safety razor holder; end views of the blade-holding part of which are diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, includes -a frame C having a platform c with a rib 0' extending longitudinally of the same, and vertically movable end pieces D upon which a fresh blade is initially set. The rib c, disposed longitudinally of the platform c, enters the longitudinal slot b of the blade; thereby positioning the same.

The vertically movable end pieces D carry a pair of swinging leaves or covers E in hinged relationat e. A handle F, suitably connected to the frame, contains mechanism which, when turned in one direction, serves to open these leaves to the position illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8; simultaneously raising the end pieces D for the placernent of a fresh blade whose end projections b rest initially upon the upper surfaces of said end pieces. In this type of holder a razor blade may be picked from a dis- Y penser by entering the end of the rib c in one end of the longitudinal slot b of the blade. After a blade has been positioned on the vertically movable end pieces D over the 7 platform c and the central rib c, the leaves are closed over the same by manipulating the handle in the proper direction to actuate the mechanism housed within the same;

' such action flexing the blade over the platform c; the

leaves in their finally closed position holding the blade with its edges in proper position for use.

After a blade carried by a holder of this type has been 5 used to a point of dullness, it is to be removed. By operating the handle in the proper direction, the mechanism housed within the same opens the leaves to the position illustrated'in'Figs. 7 and 8. In the open position, the blade will assume its original, substantially, flat or horizontal state with its projecting ends I) resting upon the end pieces D. The pick-up device is then placed over the blade, as indicated in Fig. 7, and pressed against the edges of the same until brought to the position illustrated in Fig. 8; such pressure having flexed the blade into the arched position against the inner surfaces of the side walls or flanges 10 of the pick-up device, where it is permanently held. This action is the same that takes place when using the pick-up device in the manner referred to with respect to the top or cover A illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

It is necessary of course that the inner engaging surfaces of the side walls or flanges be disposed in such relation to each other that when the blades are picked up and held in a flexed condition between the same they will be permanently engaged.

In a very simple form, the pick-up device may be of the shape and character illustrated in Fig. l, and the elevational and other views; the blade edges being engaged simultaneously for substantially their entire length by the inner surfaces of the side walls or flanges. However, blades may be held between ribs formed on the inner surfaces of these side walls, and this feature is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. The ribs are indicated at 10 preferably disposed in pairs directly opposite each other; the distance between the inner faces of oppositely disposed ribs being less than the width of a blade so that, when gathered, the blade will be flexed into arched position with its edges permanently engaged by the inner faces of the ribs. In providing these ribs, the lower termini of the same, indicated at 10, are spaced slightly above the bottom of the side walls and the space between the side walls at these points is substantially the same as the width of a blade so that when a pick-up device having ribs is positioned for engagement with a used blade, the edges thereof will lie, initially, under the lower ends of the ribs. This arrangement insures that engagement with the inner surfaces of the ribs will be uniform throughout so that when pressure is applied to the pick-up device over the blade, the latter will be flexed and permanently displaced into frictional engagement with the inner surfaces of the pairs of the oppositely disposed ribs.

in a similar manner, the inside corner edge walls of the other forms of the pick-up device that engage the cutting edges of the used blades may be slightly recessed, as indicated at 10 Fig. 2, to provide positioning means for the pick-up device when the latter is placed in position to gather a used blade.

. To prevent removal of the used blades from the pick-up device by endwise movement of the same after they have been gathered, the pick-up device of the type illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, et seq., may be provided with end walls 10 which may be integral with the body portion thereof and may be less in height than the side walls.

In the relatively simple forms of my pick-up device as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, et seq., the ceiling surface of the.

body portion between the side walls or flanges is relatively flat. of a maximum number of blades, it maybe desirable to arch this surface, as indicated at 10*, Figs. 12 and 13; Fig. 13 showing, in addition, an externally arched or convex surface at 10 The present practice of providing dispensers for delivering fresh blades of the type which, when used to dullness, my pick-up device is designed to gather, suggests that a dispenser might be associated therewith, and in Fig. 14 I have illustrated, diagrammatically, a sectional view of a combined structure. The body, indicated at G, may have on one face oppositely disposed walls 1G0 for gathering the used blades, and includes a chamber G for fresh blades. This chamber may have a slot g in an end wall through which fresh blades may be passed; the supply 0 fresh blades being maintained in position for passage, successively through such slot by a suitable leaf spring, diagrammatically indicated at H. A dispenser, per se, forms no part of my present invention; any type of dispenser being suitable for association with any form of my pick-up device; either as a single entity, or in the form of separate members suitably connected together. 7

In all forms of my pick-up device, the side walls of With a view of providing space for the reception flanges 10 may be of such dimension or height as to accommodate a relatively large number of used blades. The blades will be permanently retained in the flexed condition between the side walls in the type of pick-up device illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, et seq. When the pickup device is filled, the Whole structure may be discarded anywhere; the blades being so held as to avoid all danger of cutting any person handling the device. In the use of a safety razor holder such as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, fresh blades are usually picked from a dispenser and seated in place without handling, and in the use of a pickup device within the scope of my invention, the used blades may be gathered and subsequently discarded, without handling.

In all instances, the used blades are retained by the pick-up device in a flexed condition; the tension set up by flexure holding their cutting edges in firm permanent frictional engagement with the inner surfaces of the parallel flanges or side walls projecting from one face of the body of the pick-up device.

It will be understood that the constructional details herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and not as limitations, since modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention; all of which is deemed to be within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for gathering used razor blades comprising a unitary rigid body member substantially rectangular in contour and having at least one surface in a single plane with rigid longitudinal parallel flanges of appreciable thickness projecting from said body at its longitudinal edges opposite its planar surface and at right angles thereto; said flanges forming walls whose inner surfaces are in parallel relation and occupy a spaced position slightly less than the width of a blade so that when said parallel walls are pressed against the opposite edges of a blade the latter will be flexed into arched position and thereafter be held between said walls in permanently flexed positron.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal wall flanges are notched or recessed at their inner edges to receive the blade edges whereby the flexure or" said blades when subsequently engaged by said parallel wall surfaces will be facilitated.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal wall flanges have oppositely disposed ribs on their inner sides; the inner surfaces of which ribs are in parallel relation and occupy a laterally spaced position slightly less than the width of a blade so that when said ribs are pressed against the opposite edges of a blade the latter will be flexed into arched position and thereafter be held between said ribs in permanently flexed position.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the body member is provided with an opening longitudinally thereof between said flanges to accommodate parts of the frame of a safety razor supporting the used blade to be gathered.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,270,790 Stampleman et al J an. 20, 1942. 2,348,303 Muros May 9, 1944 2,350,837 Stampleman et al June 6, 1944 2,454,197 Muros Nov. 16, 1948 2,562,513 Shnitzler July 31, 1951 2,569,072 Roberts Sept. 25, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 533,880 Germany Sept. 19, 1931 

